Packer should start for England in final – Merchant

If Lucy Packer is chosen to face Canada in the Women’s Rugby World Cup final, says 2014 champion Kat Merchant, she could be “the difference.”

The 25-year-old scrum-half has played in all five of this year’s World Cup’s games, but only one of them, the record-breaking defeat to Samoa, was the starting point.

In Saturday’s semi-final victory over France, Packer was also substituted for him.

Merchant claimed Packer showed enough to convince her that she should start in the top 15 against Canada on Saturday despite not having any minutes.

According to her, “I think Lucy Packer is the difference,” she said on the podcast of the Rugby Union Weekly. “It’s probably not going to be a popular opinion.

She has incredible ball speed, and I believe John Mitchell will start next week if she is being really brave.

Natasha Hunt, who was also a member of that 2014 World Cup squad that had a showpiece success over Canada, would likely be in the way of Packer’s inclusion.

Merchant, however, added that Hunt could outperform the bench significantly.

She said, “Natasha Hunt comes off the bench, she carves up when she comes off the bench.”

In the final moments of the game, she “brings an energy,” she “quick-taps,” and she “does everything you need.”

That calm but quick ball speed could be the shift we need, according to Lucy Packer, who has been in charge of the ship from beginning to end. However, I believe it was necessary for this game, and I would have started her for it, but I don’t believe Mitchell will.

Claire Thomas, a commentator, agreed with that point of view, but later said she would continue to work with Hunt because of her big-game experience.

Thomas of Packer remarked, “I thought she looked fantastic when she came on.”

It’s not like she’s the Lucy Packer from three years ago, when she was thrown into a World Cup final with little to no rugby to her credit, and by extension with torn angle ligaments.

“She is someone who has captained her club, someone who has played in PWR semi-finals,” she said if they put her in the mix for the start of the ninth week.

Merchant also favored playing Packer at number nine, but he also ruled out playing either Jess Breach or Tatyana Heard in place of both Claudia Moloney-MacDonald and Holly Aitchison.

With six tries, Breach is England’s top try-scorer in the tournament, but he struggled in the final four against France.

I don’t believe Jess Breach has performed the number 14, but I do believe Claudia is a top-notch finisher, added Merchant.

“And defensively, I’m thinking that because England faced problems [against France], and Claudia and Abby Dow are your better defensive wingers.

Only two players combined have started all five of England’s World Cup games, Breach and vice-captain Meg Jones. While Thomas criticized Breach’s decision to leave for the final, she also expressed concern about starting the 27-year-old.

Alysha Corrigan will absolutely back herself in a one-on-one against her, said Thomas, “I’m worried about the fact that she knows Jess inside and out from their time together at Saracens.”

Jess Breach is a pace that Asia Hogan-Rochester can handle, and I have to say that without a doubt.

At 14 years old, Merchant and Thomas both preferred Aitchison over Heard as the starting point.

Aitchison, a Sale Sharks’ starting pitcher, was substituted for France’s Heard in the 2022 World Cup final defeat.

“I’m putting Holly in at 12 because I believe they need something else,” Merchant said. “Meg Jones stays at 13.”

Heard and Sheard have played well, but I believe that if England are to play as they have so far, they must do something different.

I’m a little worried about what will be coming up Holly’s channel because Canada prefers to cut through the middle, but like Kat, I don’t think the attack is moving yet, and Holly’s on the field makes it look better.